Button-turning machine.



H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON TURNING NAcH|NE.

l APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, |909. 1,152,315. Patented Aug. 31,1915.

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BUTTON TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAII.27.1909.

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BUTTON TURNlNG MAcHlNE.

APPUCATON FILED MAH. 21| |909. 1,152,315. Patented Aug. 81, 1915.

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BUTTON TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. I909. n 1,152,315, Patented Aug'. o1, 1915.

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H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. I909.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27. |909.

1,152,315. Patented Auk. 31,1915.

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H. HASTINGS.

auIIoN TURNING NIAcIIINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. |909. 1,152,315, PatentodAug. 31, 1915.

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H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. |909.

Patented Ang. 31, 1915.

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BUTTON TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. 1909.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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H. HASTINGS.

BuTToN TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1909.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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t M e v n @Winans yum f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT HASTINGS, 0F "ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GERMAN AMERICAN -IBUTTON COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK. I

BUTTON-TURNING MACHINE.

Application filed March 27, 1909.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT Has'rixos,

of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and description of the same, reference beingV had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to button turning machines and particularly to that class in which the buttons are cut and shaped from blanks by the successive operations of a plurality of tools and it has for its object to provide a machine of this character which will automatically perform all. the various operations, including the feeding of blanks to the work piece holders, the successive presentation of the latter into position to receive the blanks and successively carry them to the tools employed for cutting and forming finished buttons and the final discharging of the buttons and the Waste portion of the blank.

My invention also comprehends a .machine for automatically operating upon blank Work pieces in which the conjoint operation of the parts are controlled either pneumaticallv or by means of fluid other than air, un er pressure, whereby its parts may be made small in size, compact .and caused to operate in perfect timed relationship to each other.

In addition to the foregoing general features. my invention also includes the arrangement and association of the several parts of the mechanism, such as the means for indexing or timing their various relative operations and so controlling them that failure to properly position the work pieces or blanks in front of the tools will automatically disconnect .the driving devices of the machine to prevent damage or injury occurring to any of its parts.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being ypointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Serial No. 486,154.

v iew thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectlonal view taken on the line 3"-3x of Fig. 1, showing an enlarged front elevation of the turret on which the work pieces are carr1ed during the successive operations to which they are subjected. Fi 3 is a detail section of the turret sha t. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section view taken on the line 4*--49 of Fig. 1. This illustration shows two of the cutter spindles, the means for adjusting them and the driving member by means o which the turret is operated. Fig. 5 is a sectional view extending transversely through the turret, showing the devices for rotating it intermittently, said view being taken on the line 5*---5x of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view taken on the line (SX-6 of Fig. 5, illustrating the arrangement and operation of the grippers of the work piece holders and,the pistons operating them. In this figure are also shown the ends of the tools cooperating with a work piece in a holder. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view showing the timing shaft, the index cam driven thereby and the devices for automatically disconnecting said parts, capable of either manual or automatic operation. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the disconnecting devices taken on the line "-8" of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a face view of the index cam showing the relative positions of the several cam rings thereon. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 10X-10" of Fig. 2, showing one of the cutter spindles and the associated mechanism for reciprocating it. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of one of the tool driving pulleys taken on the line 11"---11x of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. .10 showing the details of the button extracting chuck and spindle. Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the chuck shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a detail view taken on the line 14"-14.x of Fig. 3. This figure of the drawing illustrates the levers for imparting the longitudinal movement to the cutter'spindles, the cams for operating the levers, also the connecting rod for actuating the blank transferring mechanism. Fig. 15 is a rear elevation of the blank transferring mechanism which is operatively connected with the parts shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a front elevation of said blank transferring mechanism, the parts being shown. in the position to engage a work piece. Fig. 17

posit the work piece in one of the holding. devices on the turret.

Fig. 18 is a sectional View taken on the line 18x-18X of Fig. 16. Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line 19-19* of Fig. 17. Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail view taken on the line 20"--20X of Fig. 17. Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the picking fingers of the transferring mechanism. Fig. 22 is a plan view of the work piece feeding table. Fig. 23 is a horizontal sectional view thereof taken on the line 23"---23X of Fig. 22. Fig.'24 is a detail fragmentary view of the feeding table illustrating particularly the arrangement and operation for centering the work pieces. Fig. 25 is a detail vertical sectional view showing the feeding table and the driving devices by which it is rotatably connected with the turret. Fig. 26 is a horizontal sectional view showing a detail of the turret guard .taken on the line 26 --26 of Fig. 27, and Fig. 27 is aplan view of the parts shown in Fig. 26. Figs. 28, 29, 30 and 31 are detail sectional Views taken on the lines 28X-28, 29X--29X, 30x-J3()X and 31"-31x respectively of Fig. 5, illustrating the various air passages and valves controlling them, which serve to co-ntrol the intermittent operation of the turret and the proper opening and closing of the several gripping devices thereon. Fig. 32 is a similar view on the line 32X-32x of Fig.

28. Fig. 33 is a diagrammatic view showing the positions assumed by the various parts of the turret operating mechanism immediately after each movement of the turret. Fig. 34 is a similar view illustrating the return movement of the turret operating piston during the dwell of the turret. Fig. 35 is a detail end view of the check block showing the passages therein which communicate with those in the turret spindle. Fig. 36 is an enlarged detail Vview of the backing tool and chuck, shown in section, and Figs. 37 and 38 are detail views showing the lock employed for securing the belt tightener pulleys in adjusted positions.

Similar reference characters in the several figures indicate similar parts.

A machine embodying my invention and adapted for turning buttons comprises the button turning tools, for performing what is known as the rough cutting and finishing operations on the blank which are arranged at opposite sides of the devices for carrying and holding the work piece or blank during the cutting operations to which it is subjected. These tools are arranged to be operated relatively toward and from the button blank holding devices at predetermined intervals of time in accordance with the movements of other parts of the machine.

The cutting tools are mounted in spindles @5 and the latter are supported in an adjustsuch as the roughing cutter for roughly cutting the front of the button and the roughing and finishing cutter for forming the rear of the button, may be accurately alined. These spindles are operated longitudinally in their journal boxes by reciprocating heads operatedl toward and from each other by means of suitable cams which revolve continuously and in order that the depth of the cut of the tools may be accurately determined, adjustable connections are provided between the outer ends of the reciprocating heads and the spindles, in which the tools are carried, as shown in Fig. 10. There are four of these tool spindles arranged in pairs, one of each pair beinglocated at each side of the center of the machine. The first pair of spindles carry tools for rough cutting the face of the button and for rough cutting and finishing the rear of the button. Uf the remaining pair of spindles, one carries a tool for finishing the face of the button and the other is provided with a chuck or gripping device such as shown in Fig. 12 for extracting the button while it is being severed from the surrounding ring of the blank by the action of the last mentioned finishing tool.

The devi-ces for holding and carrying the work pieces or button blanks during .the several operations to which they are submitted during the formation of the buttons, comprise in the present instance a revoluble head or turret, as shown in Fig. 3 having thereon a plurality o'f sets of gripping devices or Work piece holders' which are automatically operated to secure the button blanks when these are placed in operative position and to finally release the ring or annulus when the comconstructed that the turret is rotated inter.

mittently to present each of said holders able-journal boX whereby opposing tools,

successively intooperative position between the two pairs of cutter spindles. There are always two work pieces undergoing simultaneousl operation by the pair of tools, consequently the third holder at thisftime is at rest in la position to receive a new work piece.

Arranged above the turret are the feeding devices such as shown in Figs. 1 and 16 to 21 inclusive. The present embodiment of the invention, in this respect'comprises a pair of fingers which select or pick off the work pieces from a revoluble feeding table, shown in Figs. 22 and 25, which are then retracted and rotated through an angle of approximately 90 degrees and moved downwardly to insert the blank in theholder on the turret which is at that time idle with its jaws or grippers in an lopen position to receive the work piece. The feeding table is located at one side of the turret as shown particularly in Fig. 1, and is operated intermittently step by step each time a blank is removed therefrom to position another blank in readiness to be withdrawn by the fingers.

The mechanism for rotating the turret is preferably operated pneumatically as are also the jaws of the work piece holders, although of course fluid other than air under pressure may be employed if so desired. The operation of these devices is timed or controlled by indexing mechanism which also governs the movement of the cutter spindles as well as the rotation 0f the work piece feeding table and the fingers employed for transferring the blanks from the latter to the holders on the turret. i

The button turning machine as a whole, illustrated in side and end elevations in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises the main frame 1 supported upon a suitable base or legs 2 on which may be mounted the driving shaft 3 rovided with driving pulleys 4 and 4. axtending upwardly from the main, frame are brackets 5 and 5, arranged at the right hand side of the turret case 6, and similar brackets 5b and 5, located at the left hand side thereof. The first mentioned pair of brackets support the bea-ring boxes for the spindle, for the rough cutting facing tool and the spindle 8, as shown in Fig. 1, for the face finishing tool, while the brackets 5b and 5 support the spindles 9 and 10 (Figs. 4 and 1) arranged respectively to receive the rough cutting back finishing tool and the button holding tool or chuck shown in Fig. 12. These bearing supporting brackets and the spindle bearings mounted in each,

are similar in construction and a detail description of one of these parts is applicable to all.

Each of the brackets is provided with two apertures as shown in Fig. 4 in which the respective spindles and their bearings are positioned. These bearings comprise the inner and outer boxes 11 and 12, connected by a cylindrical web 13 which is provided with an aperture in its upper side, covered by a removable plate or cap 14. Each of the boxes is tapered and fitting therein are the journal boxes 15 which are split lengthwise and are held in position by adjusting nuts 16 and 17, whereby they may be positioned longitudinally in their respective boxes and adjusted to compensate for any lost motion or wear. Coperating with the bearing boxes of each shaft are the centering devices comprising three adjusting screws which are supported in the several brackets of the main frame. These screws are so disposed that they extend radially of the centers of the spindles and engage the boxes on which the latter are j ournaled at equidistant points about their. circumference, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. The adjusting screws for the several boxes are arranged similarly in each of the brackets the uppermost or top screws, which are arranged vertically, being indicated by 18 while the side screws 19 and 20 are disposed at angles. The set screws 20 which support the inner sides of the bearing boxes project through the sides of the frame opposite to that nearest which the boxes are located, so that these screws are considerably longer than the others and are arranged at an angle or offset slightly so that their inner ends mayv pass each other as will be clearly understood from the illustration shown in Fig. 4. Each of the bearing screws is threaded in the frame4 and provided with a lock nut 21 and their inner ends or extremities are provided with semispherical points fitting similar shaped cavities in bearing blocks 22, the rear sides of which are fiattened and rest in notches 23 formed on the exterior of the bearing boxes ,1 1 and 12. The blocks engaging the box 11 are preferably prevented from lateral movement by being Fitted snugly between the shoulders of the recesses while those engaging the box 12 are permitted a slight lateral movement, in order to permit the outer end of the spindle to be adjusted in any direction without in any way cramping the bearing blocks. However it will be understood that the angular adjustment of the outer ends of the spindles in reference to the frame of the machine is comparatively slight as it is only necessary that the spindles be adjusted to position them in perfect alinement with the opposing spindle carrying the complementary tool.

Each spindle is rotated by a driving member or pulley 24 those at the right hand end of the machine being rotated by a belt 25 passing around the pulley 4 while those at the left hand end thereof are rotated by the belt 26 driven by the pulley 4. The pulleys 24 are supported on bearings formed as 'extensions ofthe spindle bearing boxes so that the pull of the belt, which might have a tendency to spring the spindles as well as to exert an influence to cause them to wear their bearings unevenly and thus 115 10 in which it is seen that the casting coni- 120 prising the bearing boxes 11 and 12 and the connecting web 13 is provided with an extension 27 to which is removably attached, by means of screws 28, a hub or sleeve 29 surrounding the spindle but preferably not 125 engaging the latter. The pulley 24 is provided with a journal box 30 which fits the sleeve 29 and at its outer end is a cover or cap piece 31 detachably connected by screws 32 and provided with an internal recess re- 13o ceiving the end of the sleeve 29 which is provided with a circumferential groove 33 for retaining a U shaped locking collar 34. The latter is held in place by the inner side wall of the recess in the cap or cover and when the latter is in proper position, the pulley is prevented from outward movement thereon by said collar. The cover or cap piece 31 is also provided with two keys 35 which lie in the grooves or keyways 36 provided in the opposite sides of the spindle.

The spindles at each end of the frame are moved longitudinally by reciprocating heads 37 and 38 mounted on the outer ends of the slide rods 39 and 40 supported in the guides 41 and 42 at opposite ends of the main frame 1. Each of these reciprocating heads actuate the spindles with which they are associated simultaneously, and as the rods are located centrally beneathv the spindles, their heads are provided with diverging arms 37a and 37b, as shown in Fig. 2, which carry the connections by means of which the spindles are adjusted relatively to the heads. These connections are shown in detail in Fig. 10. The outer end of each spindle is grooved as indicated at 43 and lying therein is the hook'shaped extremity 44 of the threaded tubular adjusting bolt 45 which `may be operated longitudinally relatively to the head 38 in either direction, by means of a nut 46 and secured by clamping nut 47. The bolt 45 is provided with a keyway and prevented from rotating in its supporting arm by a key 48. Arranged in one end of the bolt is a bearing piece 49 of liber having an enlarged inner end abutting the end of the spindle and adapted to be adjusted relatively thereto by a bolt 50 threaded in the outer end of the bolt 45 and bearing against the end of a thrust rod 49a and secured by a lock nut 50a. The parts 49-49a and 50 are made in separate pieces but in operation they act as a single member for adjusting the shaft in one direction. By this arrangement of parts, it will be seen that the spindles may all be adjusted so that the tools carried thereby will cut into the blanks on which they operate a given predetermined distance, while the movement of the reciprocating heads remains the same and as any lost motion between the spindles and the heads may be taken up by the adjusting devices, the tools can be positioned to perform their work accurately.

Arranged beneath the spindle pulleys are devices for tightening the belts 25 and 26, each of which comprises a pulley 51 around which the belts pass, said pulleys being supported upon arms 52, pivoted to the main frame, as indicated at the point 53. At their outer ends the arms are provided with the handles 54 which may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly and secured to rods 55 by means of the clamping b olt 56, the details of the latter being shown in Figs. 36 and 37.

Timing o7- z'ndem'ng mechamlsm.-The main frame 1 of the machine is hollow and arranged therein is the mechanism controlling the rotation of the turret, the reciprocation of the tool spindles and the conjointly operating button blank feeding devices. Extending transversely of the main frame 1 at about the central point thereof, is the indexing cam shaft carrying at its forward end the indexing cam 66 and at its rear end, the cam 67 employed for controlling the reciprocatory movement of the cutter spindles. Motion is transmitted to the indexing shaft 65 by the cam 66 which lis provided on its circumference with spiral gear teeth meshing with the pinion or worm 68 mounted on the shaft 69 (Fig. 7). The latter extends lengthwise of the mainframe and is supported in a bearing box 70 in which its longitudinal movement is prevented inone direction by the pinion and in the other by a collar 71, as shown in Fig. 7. The outer end of this shaft projects through the end of the main frame and is provided with a squared end 72 adaptedto receive a crank arm such as 73 (Figs. 1 and 2) by means of which it may be rotated manually if at any time it is desired to adjust the parts in this manner. The shaft 69 constitutes the driving shaft and motion is imparted thereto by the driving pulley 74 revolved by belt 75 passing around the pulley 76 on the shaft 3. The pulley 74 is not however connected directly to the shaft but is mounted upon a sleeve 77 j ournaled in the box 78 and held against longitudinal Amovement therein by the pulley located at one end of the box and the collar 79 engaging the opposite end thereof. The sleeve 77 constitutes a driving clutch member with which coperates the driven clutch member 80 splined to the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof and provided with one or more projections such as 81 which are adapted to t in corresponding notches or depressions in the adjacent end of the sleeve 77. The sleeve 80 is also provided with an annular groove into which projects a pin 82 carried on the end of an operating lever 83 arranged within the frame 1 and attached to a stud 84, the end of which projects exteriorly of the main frame and is provided with the operating arm or handle 85 by means of which the driven clutch member may be engaged or disengaged from the driving member 77. Attached to the handle 85 is a rod 86 which is guided in a boss 87 arranged exteriorly of the main frame l and located in alinement with the center of the indexing shaft 65. rllhe rod 86 is surrounded by a coil spring 88, arranged between the boss 87 and the collar 89, which is placed under tension when the handle 85 is moved to throw the clutch sleeves or members 80 and 77 into engagement as shown in Fig. 7. The rod particularly in Fig.

' respective operations.

86 in this position is held, as shown in Fig. 8, by a spring operated bolt 90 engaging in a recess or depression 91 in said rod which is also provided with an inner end or art 92, adapted to normally abut the end ofp the shaft 65 in position to be operated outwardly, to release the rod 86, by the 'action of a thrust rod or bolt 93 arranged centrally in the shaft 65, the operation of which will be further described hereinafter. The arrangement of these parts is shown particularly in Figs. 3, 7 and 8.

The turret.mcchnz'sm.-The support for the work pieces comprises a revoluble turret provided with work piece holders embodying gripping devices which form the means for carrying and placing the work pieces before the operating tools. The turret is constructed in the form of an annular plate surrounded by a casing composed of the upper and lower sections 6 and 6, the latter being provided with a base or foot piece 94 by means of which it is secured to the central table portion of the main frame 1 between the brackets 5 and 5b. This casing is in the form of an open ring and at each edge it is provided with inwardly extending flanges 6b which embrace the edges of the turret plate. Thelatter' is indicated by 100 and at its center, it is provided with a laterally extending hub 101 which is journaled on the stationary shaft 102, the ends of which are secured in the brackets 5u and 5", as shown 5. The turret plate is provided with equidistantly space apertures indicated by A, B, and C which represent the positions in which the button blanks are placed for the successive operations performed on them, position A being the receiving position, B the roughing position and C, the finishing and ejecting pos1t1on. T he several work piece holders or sets of gripping devices are similarly constructed but as somewhat different actions occur in connection with each of them as they are successively moved from one position to another, description of their construction and operation will be omitted until the mechanism for rotating the support or turret has been ex-` plained.

The turret rotating mechanism- The work piece support or turret is automatically rotated through successive steps each an angle of 120 degrees and durlng the dwell between the steps the turret is held or locked in adjusted position by a suitable bolt 113 while the several tools are performing thelr When these operations have been completed the bolt is retracted to permit the turret to be unlocked and allow it to be again rotated. The intermittent rotation of the turret continues 1ndefinitely so long as its driving parts perform their proper functions and the rotary movement is not prevented, as sometimes may occur by a reduction in the fluid pressure supply or the lodgment of a chip between the turret and the frame. At such a time the clutch members 80 and 81 will be automatically disconnected by the release of the rod 86, as Will be more fully explained hereinafter. To start the movement of the turret when it has been arrested, the operating handle 85 is moved toward the left, in which position it is retained by the bolt 90 engaging the recess in the rod 86. The driving element which rotates the turret is an oscillatory shaft moved by the reciprocating. piston of a fluid operated engine, which is moved in opposite directions by air or other fluid under pressure admitted alternately to opposite ends ofthe cylinder in which the piston is located. As the turret is revolved continuously in one direction' by successive partial rotations, an intermediate driving member is arranged between it and the oscillatory driving element or shaft and the latter is secured to the former, when moving in one direction, by means of a locking device or bolt which is ejected when the turret locking bolt is retracted. Both of these bolts are controlled by fluid in passages which are so arranged that the two bolts are interdependent in their operation.

The turret plate 100 is surrounded by a gear ring 103 and intermeshing therewith is la similar ring 104 of smaller diameter carried on the inner end of the oscillatory driving shaft 105 journaled in the hub or boss 106, formed on the main frame 1 and located directly beneath the turret, as shown particularly in Figs. 5, 33 and 34. Extending transversely of the main frame and beneath the outer end of the boss 106 is a cylinder 107 containing the piston 108 provided along its upper edge with rack gear teeth 109 which engage similar teeth 110 formed on the oscillatory member 105 by means of which the latter is rotated first in one direction and then the other by the reciprocatory movement of the piston. At the inner end of the member 105 is a transversely extending aperture or chamber in which is located the turret rotating bolt 111 having the outer wedge shaped end which is adapted to be projected into engagement with a notch 112 formed in the gear ring 104.

The turret locking bolt, indicated by 113, is provided at its outer extremity with a wedge shaped end 114 coperating with the notches in the plurality of wear lates 115, adapted to receive it, said plates eing provided at equidistant points about the circumference of the turret plate 100. The locking bolt 113 reciprocates in a chamber, formed in a casting 116 depending from the foot or base part 94 of the turret casing and in alinement with the boss 106. From an examination of Figs. 5 and 3, it will bev seen that turret locking bolt 113 is located above and slightly to one side of the center f the indexing cam shaft 65 so that its lower end 117, when said bolt is retracted, as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 5, projects into the path of the release dog 118. The latter is pivotally supported in a recess in the collar 119 secured to the shaft 65. The release dog is provided with an end or finger 120 which bears against one face of a lever 121, the other face of which abuts against the end of the release rod 93. This lever 121 is arranged in a slot in the shaft 65 and is pivoted on the pin 122 so that it will be moved to eject the rod 93 to efect a disconnection of the driving mechanism, by permitting the clutch members 77 and 80 to be disengaged whenever the release dog engages the turretA locking bolt by reason of the failure of the latter to be projected into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

Beneath the boss 106 containing the oscillatory member 105 is secured a valve chest 123 (Figs. 5 and 29 to 32) having passages formed therein and provided with. valve chambers in which reciprocate piston slide .apertures in the castings.

valves a, and c which are controlled by levers a, b and c pivoted on an arbor 124 supported at its ends in bracket arms 125. Each of the levers is provided with a small roller 126 which coperates respectivelyr with the cam rings of the indexing cam 66, as will be more fully described hereafter. Each of the valve lever arms is provided with a rearwardly extending finger 127 to which 4is connected a retractile spring 128 which serves to move the valve operating lever in one direction and to hold its roller 126 in operative engagement with its respective cam ring as shown in Figs. 29, 30 and 31.

In the actual construction of a machine of this character the various air passages are formed in the different frame pieces either by drilling out the metal or roviding cored n the drawings the exact location of these passages have been shown but in order to simplify the description and to enable an understanding of the operation of the machine to be more easily understood, the passages controlling the operation of the turret rotating mechanism have been shown in separate diagrammatic illustrations, Figs. 33 and 34. The flow of the fluid in these passages is controlled by the piston slide valve a.

The indexing cam Fig. 9, is provided upon its inner face with the three cam rings of which the center one is provided with the normal portion 129 and the operating or depressed part 129a which for a comparatively brief portion or part of the rotation of the cam allows the valve lever a' to move outwardly to position the valve a, as shown .in Fig. 33 in which position ituemains until the turret has been rotated the required distance, when the portion of the cam 129 moves the lever and restores the valve L to the position shown in Fig. 34. Air or other fluid under pressure is supplied to the valve chest through the pipe 130 from which it enters the chamber between the heads a2 and a3 of the piston slide valve a. When the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 33 the valve head a2 opens the port a3 permitting air to then enter the passage at. The latter communicates with the annular groove a5 of the oscillatory shaft 105 and communicating with this groove is'a longitudinally extending passage a6 leading to one enel of the piston chamber 131, at a point beneath the lower end of the turret-rotatingbolt 111 which latter has the two heads al and d. These two heads are separated by an annular passage d2 from which leads the exhaust port d3, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 33 and 34. The admission of air through the passages a4 and a6 into the lower end of the chamber 131`forces the turretret-rotating-bolt, just described, and comprises two piston heads e and e separated by an annular groove e2 from which leads an exhaust passage e3, shown in dotted lines .in the diagrammatic illustrations. The air under pressure impinging upon the piston head e retracts the turret locking bolt into 4 the inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 33, at which time said 'piston head opens the port from which leads the passage am, connected to the port am near the forward end of the cylinder 107. It is through this port, and the by-passage connected therewith, that the fluid pressure is supplied to actuate the piston 108 in the direction in which it moves when rotating the turret plate 100.

In Fig. 33 the piston 108 is shown at the rear end of the cylinder in the .position which it occupies at the completion of the rotation of the turret but it will be understood that at the commencement of its move-' l ment to rotate the turret the piston is at the forward end of the cylinder as shown in Fig. 34. The port L13 is then cut off and fluid enters the cylinder by way of the passage a opening the ballv check valve a15 and passing into the cylinder by way of the In connection with the passage a,M

port al,

it will and cheek valve arranged therein,

also be noticed that lthere is another small f passage al? communicating with the port a.

and leading around the check valve to a port a and forming a by-pass, the area of v movement of the piston may be permitted to be gradual as -ample time therefor is provided while the turret is at rest. The port fw is alternately an inlet and an' exhaust port and is connected by alpassage f with the annular passage f, in the oscillatory member 105 from which leads the internal longitudinally extending passage f7 through which air from the rear end of the cylinder 107 is permitted to exhaust, when the turretrotating-bolt has been projected into the position shown in Fig. 33, at which time said passage f7 is in communication with the groove cl2 of the rotating-bolt piston head. and the exhaust passage d leading therefrom t0 the atmosphere. After each rotation of the turret, the parts come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 33 and it is then necessary to retract the turret-rotatingbolt 111 to disconnect the oscillatory member 105 from the gear ring 104, in order that the piston 108 may be returned to the forward end of the cylinder. In order to hold 'the turret rigidly in its adjusted position,

after the rotating-bolt 111 is retracted as Well as to hold it independently of the piston 108 and its connected parts, the locking bolt 113 is provided and the operation of this bolt and the rotating bolt before mentioned are made interdependent in their operation so that the rotating-bolt cannot be projected until the locking-bolt has been retracted and vice versa.

The indexing cam 66, Figs. 3, 7 and 9 rotates continuously and at about the time the piston 10S has completed its rearward movement (Fig. 33), the high or normal portion 129 of the central cam ring operates the lever a. and moves the piston a inwardly into the position shown in Fig. 34. The head a3 of said piston opens the port f3 into communication with the Huid pressure sup-1 ply pipe 130. The port f3 is connected by the passage f4 with the port f5 at the lower end of the chamber containingr the turretlocking-bolt 113, beneath the head of thc piston e. The air pressure then causes the turret-locking-bolt to be ejected into the position shown in Fig. 34, the piston head e thereof opening communication from the port f5 to the passage f, the other extremity of which is in communication with the an- A nular groove f5 in the member 105. Leadpassage f7.

ing from the groove ff is a longitudinal passage f which communicates with the chamber 131, containing the turret-rotating-bolt 111, above the piston head d thereof. The fluid pressure thus introduced to the last mentioned chamber causes the rotating-bolt 111 to be moved downward or into retracted position, as shown in Fig. 34, when said piston head d opens communication with the The fluid under pressure is then permitted to enter the rear end of the cylinder 107 through the passage f and port f1 to return the piston 108 into operative position. It will be noticed that when the turret-locking-bolt 113 is moved into operative position the passage a, leading from the forward end of theI piston cylinder 107, is then open to the atmosphere through the groove e2 and the exhaust passage e to allow the escape of fiuid during the return movement of the piston.

During the operation of the tools upon the work pieces carried on the turret the high or normal portion 129 of the interme-.

diate ring of the cam (36 holds the piston a inwardly in the position shown in Fig. 34 and during this time the fluid under pressure is permitted to move the piston 108 from its rearward position, shown in Fig. 33, to its forward position shown in Fig. 34, by traversing the following path: supply pipe 130, port f3, passage 7'", port f5 (ejecting the turret-locking-bolt passage f, annular groove f8, passage f1 (retracting the turret-rotating-bolt) passage f7, annular passage f, passages fm, f, port f, passage 7'", port f1. Air from the forward end of the cylinder 107 escapes through the port a, passage am, and exhaust passages e2, e3, for the major portion of the return movement of the piston 108, but after the forward end of said piston cuts off the port a, the air remaining therein seeps out of the cylinder by way of the port al", by-pass a", port (1.18 into passages a, au'for the purpose of cushioning the piston. After the operations of the tools have been completed and they have been retracted the low portion 129a of the indexing cam ring permits the valve a to move outwardly, to the position shown in Fig. 33, permitting air to traverse the following path and to perform the following operationsz-supply pipe 130, port a3", passage a, annular groove a5, passage a (ejecting the turret-rotating-bolt) passages (17 and as, annular groove a?, passage al", (moving the turret-locking-bolt into retracted position) passages al'", a, (depressing the check valve (L15) thence through passage al into the forward end of the cylinder 107. The locking-bolt being retracted and the rotating-bolt projected, practically simultaneously, and before the movement of the piston 10S commences, releases the turret and locks the gear ring 104 to the oscillatory member or shaft 105 so that the rearward movement of the piston 108 causes the turret to be rotatedor indexed. During the rearward movement of the piston 108, the air escapes from the rear end of the cylinder through the port fig, passage fm, annular passage fg, longitudinal passage f7 and exhaust passages cl2 and (Z3, until the rear end of the piston closes the port fla, after which its movement is cushioned by the retarded outflow of the air, then remaining in the cylinder, which must escape through the port f1, by-pass f and port f18 into the passage im.

The 'work piece brbara-In illustrating the present embodiment of the invention three sets of work piece holders have been shown although it will be understood that a j greater or less number of these may be mounted upon a suitable support if it is so desired. These holding devices are similar in construction and operation and each of them performs the same function as they pass successively into the receiving, rough cutting and finishing positions, indicated by A, B and Cin Fig. 3. However, for greater convenience in description, some of the similar parts ofthe three holders will be designed by the exponents hf, z', j applied to the reference characters, as indicating the three different positions occupied successively by each holding device.

At equidistant points, indicated by A, B, and C, the turret plate is provided with apertures whereby the cutters or tools oper.

ating upon the rear sides of the blank may be projected through the said plate into engagement with the blank. Each of these apertures is surrounded by a ring plate 140 secured to the face of the turret 100 by screws 141 and provided at its inner edge with a raised knurled surface 142 adapted to engage the rear face of the button blank or work piece. This ring is also provided with a slot 143 extending radially of the turret plate which is adapted to register with a similarv slot 144 provided in the arm 6b of the upper part 6'of the turret casing for a purpose to be further described. The gripper jaws, indicated by 145 and 146,` are pivoted onpins 147 carried in the ears 148 on the face of the turret plate. The proximate edges of the jaws are curved transverselyto conform with the aperture in the plate 140 and are made talon shaped, as indicated by 149 in Fig. 6, to engage and rigidly hold a work piece against the plate 140 when they are moved into engagement with the work iece. The outer ends of these levers are tted in slots 150 extending transversely of plungers 151 and 152 and are pro-` vided with laterally extending ears or projections 153, over which extend the small flanges 154 formed on the end of the plungers at each side of the slots therein.

As shown in Fig. 6, the plungers 151 and 152 project through the turret plate in line with the outer ends of the levers 145 .and 146, and at the rear ends they are enlarged to form piston heads 155 and 156 which are inclosed in short cylinders 157 and 158. rlhe rear sides of the piston heads are recessed to receive the coil springs 159 which normally operate to retract the pistons or plungers to move the gripper jaws 145 and 146 into inoperative or open position. Each of the cylinders 157 and 158 is provided with a vent 160 in rear of the pistony heads which preferably lead through the gear ring 103, which is inclosed by the turret casing so that dust, grit, and other particles of foreign matter are not drawn into the cylinders. At the bottom of each of the cylinders are ports 161 and 162 from which lead air passages 163 and 164 communicating with the passage 165 formed in a rib 166 on the face of the turret plate 100, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 6. The pas* sage 165, at a point midway between its ends, is provided with a port 167 opening within the hub 101 of the turret. The shaft 102 on which the turret is journaled is provided with three longitudinal extending passages b2, c2 and 130, the inner ends of which terminate in ports b3, c3 and d3 arranged at the center of the shaft in position to coperate with the port 167, of each set of gripping devices. At the end of the.

shaft 102, the three passages therein extend laterally and downwardly and register with separate passages in a cheek or distributing block 168 secured to the side of the bracket 5b which for convenience in construction is made as a separate part and secured by screws 169. The end of the shaft 102 and the cheek block are taper fitted and in assembling the. parts of the machine the cheek block is secured to the bracket 5b before the shaft l102 is inserted, whereby the shaft may be driven lengthwise to secure it rigidly against rotation and form an air tight joint' between the ends of the passages in the shaft and the connecting passages in the cheek block. This means of securing the shaft also permits it to be easily removed.

A constant pressure of air is maintained in the passage 130a which is supplied by the pipe 130b leading from the supply pipe 130 to one of the apertures in the cheek block 168, as shown in Fig. 5,' and the admission of air to and its exhaust from the passages b2 and c2 is controlledby the valves b and o. The respective chests in which said valves operate, are connected with the passages b2 and c2 by the pipes 53 and 03. On exami nation of the illustrations of these parts, as shown in Figs. 5, 35, 29, and 32, it will be seen thatthe pipe 53 leads from the passage b2 in the shaft 102 to the port b4 in the valve chest of the piston slide valve b, Fig.

vao

29, and that the pipe 03 connects the passage c2 with a similar port c4 in the chest in which the valve c operates. The chests containing the three valves 1a, b and c are arranged in proximity to each other in the same part or casting of the machine, as shown in the detail sectional view of Fig. 32, and the air or other fluid under pressure supplied by the pipe 130 is admitted to the chests of valves Z1 and c by the laterally extending passage 130c. lThe valves b and c are each provided with the heads b5, c5 which normally close the ports b4 and c4 and said heads are connected by stems as shown, with outer heads b and c.

The operation of each set of gripping devices as they pass successively from one position to another is controlled by the valves Z) and c which are operated by the inner' and outer cam rings of the cam 66, the high and low portions of said cams being arranged relatively to the correspondinor portions of the intermediate cam ring, w iich controls the valve a so that each set of gripping devices is operated in the following manner during the intermittent movements or steps of the turret in making a complete rotation z-Upon the completion of the operation of forming the buttons which occurs when a work piece holder is in the finishing position C and after the tools have been retracted and while the holder is in position C, the valve c is operated to permit the air to exhaust from the cylinders 157j and 158j (shown in dotted lines Fig. 3) so that the gripper jaws 145j and 14:6j are permitted to open to discharge the waste portion of the blank and to remain open when the turret is revolved to carry them into the receiving position A. These aws in the receiving position stand in open position until the work piece or button blank has been deposited in them, then air is admitted to the gripper operating cylinders, which are at that time in the position indicated by 157h and 158, by the operation of the valve I). The turret still remains at rest momentarily after the grippers in the receiving position A have engaged the blank to allow the feeding fingers of the transferring mechanism, which position the blank, to be removed from proximity to the turret. During this interval of time the two sets of cutting tools have been advanced to operate upon the blanks located in the roughing and finishing positions B and C. After these tools are retracted then the turret is advanced, the cylinders of the gripping devices continuing to receive air through the passage 130=L while the cylinders are in the position indicated by 157i and 158i. Upon the next successive movement of the turret, said cylinders are brought into the position indicated by 157j and 158j where air is supplied to them by the passage c2, the pressure therein continuing until the finishing operation of the tools has been completed and the latter retracted whereupon. the operation of the valve b cuts off the supply of fluid and opens the passage c2 to the atmosphere permitting the gripper jaws to be opened by the expansion of the springs 15S).

In order to maintain the pressure of air in the gripper' cylinders during the rotation of the turret from the receiving to the roughing position and from the latter' to the finishing osition, the passage 130n communicates with a groove, 130e which extends part way around the shaft 102, as shown in Figs. 3 and 3", the extremities of which terminate in proximity to the adjacent sides of the ports forming the extremities of the passages ?)2 and c2. The port 167, of the passage 165 leading to the gripper cylinders, is formed of sufilcient width so that as the hub 101 of the turret rotates, said port 167 will in the first instance open communication between the groove 130 and the passage 165 before it cuts off the port b3 of passage b" and in the second instance, it will open communication with the port c3 of passage c2 before it cuts off the air admitted from the groove 130".

By referring to the face view of the index cam, shown in Fig. 9, an understanding will be had of the relative arrangement of the high and low portions of the several cam rings thereon in reference to 'each other and also with reference to the intermediate cam ring which controls the indexing of the turret. In this figure it will be seen that the outer cam ring which controls the operation of the valve b, shown in detail in Fig. 29, is provided with a high portion 175 which moves the lever b', to operate the valve b inwardly to cause the valve head b5 to open communication from the air supply pipe 13G-430, through the port b4 into the pipe b3, thence into the passage b2. The cam 66 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow and the valve b is operated by the high portion 175c of the cam which is considerably in advance of the low operating portion 129u of the intermediate cam ring, which it has been explained controls the operation-of the valve a and the rotation of the turret, so that the ripping devices in the receiving position are closed somewhat in advance of the rotary movement of the turret. The low portion of this cam ring commences at the point marked 1751' which permits the valve b to be moved outwardly at about the time the turret finishes its rotation. At this instant the valve arm b is permitted to move the valve Z) outwardly so that its head b5 uncovers the port b4 opening the passage b3 into communication with the atmosphere whereupon it will be seen that the gripping devices, previously released in position C, when passing into the 

